Four people have surrendered to the police and have been charged with assault in relation to a violent brawl that erupted along the waterfront in Montgomery, Alabama, last weekend. This comes as investigations into the racially motivated altercation continue.
Last Saturday, a group of white boaters attacked a Black riverboat cruise captain, sparking outrage and condemnation. On Tuesday, warrants were issued for three of the assailants, and during a news conference, the Montgomery police appealed for them to turn themselves in.
As of Wednesday, two of the suspects, Allen Todd, 23, and Zachary Shipman, 25, were in police custody. Each has been charged with third-degree assault, a misdemeanor offense. Richard Roberts, 48, turned himself in on Tuesday and is facing two counts of third-degree assault. All three individuals have posted bail, according to officials.
Mary Todd, 21, also surrendered to the police on Thursday and has been charged with third-degree assault. She is currently being held for 12 hours, as stated in court records.
If convicted of the misdemeanor assault charges, the four accused individuals, who are all white, could face a fine of up to $6,000 and up to one year in jail. Their arraignment is scheduled for September 1.
The Montgomery police revealed on Thursday that no additional charges have been filed yet, but it is possible that more charges could be brought forward. Although the fight appears to have stemmed from racial tensions, the police have decided not to pursue hate crime charges. They have also ruled out pursuing charges of inciting a riot.
Videos captured by witnesses during the violent incident, which have gained extensive attention on social media platforms, are now being used as evidence in the investigation. Chief Darryl J. Albert of the Montgomery Police confirmed that these videos, which offer multiple angles and vantage points of the brawl, are part of the ongoing inquiry.
The altercation began at Riverfront Park, a popular spot in Montgomery, after a pontoon boat occupied a space designated for the Harriott II, a riverboat cruise that was returning from a trip along the Alabama River. Despite repeated requests from the Harriott II’s captain over a 45-minute period, the pontoon boat refused to move. Instead, the white boaters responded with offensive gestures, profanity, and taunting, according to Chief Albert.
Eventually, Damien Pickett, a co-captain of the Harriott, was taken to the dock on a small boat to speak with the pontoon boat’s owners. When Pickett, who is Black, attempted to move the pontoon, the owners confronted and physically assaulted him. In response, members of the Harriott’s crew and bystanders came to Pickett’s defense, leading to a chaotic brawl. One individual was even seen wielding a folding chair in the footage.
Both Pickett and a 16-year-old male, who had accompanied Pickett to the dock, sustained injuries during the brawl.
This incident has brought attention to the historical significance of the dock where the altercation occurred. Notably, enslaved Africans arrived at this very dock by steamboat to be sold in the center of town, adding another layer to the already tense racial climate in Montgomery.
The investigation into the racially charged melee is ongoing, and more developments may ensue as authorities delve deeper into the case.